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General discussion

Need Help Choosing a Camera

by VineDancer Jan 20, 2011 12:07AM PST

Hm...what kind of info can I give to get the best answers...

1) I'm a casual photographer who likes quality pics for both sharing online & printing out my favs

2) I'll typically use it for taking pictures of scenery when backpacking & of my friends & VERY active pet in low/VERY low light

3) I'm looking for the best VALUE (bang for the buck) and since I know very little about the cost of a good camera for my needs I haven't set a budget. So good/better/best options would be nice.

If this isn't detailed enough, please feel free to ask clarifying questions. Thanks for the advice!

Discussion is locked

3 Posts
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Questions & such
by snapshot2 Forum moderator Jan 20, 2011 1:03AM PST

First question is what price range are we looking at?
Prices range from $100 to $500 for point and shoot cameras.
Prices range from $500 to infinity for DSLR cameras.

Active pet in very low light.
You either must use flash or buy a DSLR camera.

Also, what size camera: shirt pocket, pants pocket, jacket pocket, larger than any pocket?

Any preference for optical zoom?
(3X, 5X, 10X, or larger)

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answers
by VineDancer Jan 20, 2011 3:39AM PST

That's just it, I'm unsure about the price range. If need be I can save up for the one that will work for me best.

How about a good option being a point-n-shoot, a better option being either of the two, and a best option being a DSLR?

My pet is very small, fast, & nocturnal (Sugar Glider). Hense by difficulty with good pictures, lol.

Preferably something I can fit into a mid-small purse or large pocket. Or smaller if possible. lol As a backpacker I need to keep size & weight in mind.

Hm, I'm thinking for my purposes something around 5x or 6x optical zoom.

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Digital Camera
by snapshot2 Forum moderator Jan 20, 2011 5:04AM PST

The best small cameras in low light all have an optical zoom of 3.5X
Canon S95 and Panasonic LX5 (about $400)

For 5X zoom, look at the Panasonic FX700. (about $300).

All three of the cameras mentioned above have a bright flash that has a coverage of over 20 feet.

..

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